TABLE TENNIS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21324, 19 April 1939, Page 12

TABLE TENNIS

PROFIT SHOWN ON YEAR

GAME GAINING IN POPULARITY

With an excess of income over expenditure amounting to £5/7/2 despite season noted for fairly heavy expenditure, the year of the South Canterbury Table Tennis Association was a most satisfactory one according to the annual report which will be submitted at the annual meeting tonight by the president, Mr G. C. Reid. The number of clubs affiliated to the Association now stands at thirteen, an increase of five on las', season’s figures, states the report. The new clubs which were affiliated dming the season were Associated Banks, Chalmers, England Mcßae, Police and Y.M.C.A. in the men’s grade, and Chalmers, Kia Ora, St. Mary's, Selwyn, Woolworths and Y.W.C.A. in the ladies’ section. Meteor, the only open club in the competition last season, disbanded, but an England Mcßae Club (an open club) was formed and car -ied off most of the major honours at the inter-club competitions.

Annual Tournament

Under the organising of Mr. D. P. Renton, the annual championship and handicap tournament was held at the Trinity Hall, and was an unqualified success, both from the point of view of the standard of play and the financial result. Altogether eighty players participated in the tournament, which was a vast improven.ent on the previous year’s event. The following gained representative honours during the season in the major representative matches: Messrs S A. Bremford, L. Delaney, V. Harding, R. P. Lee. F. J. O’Gorman, L. A. Sharman and R. Thomson. Misses J. Bendall. Thelma Burton, M. Hayman, Barbara Lee, C. Venning and N. Leslie. The inter-club competitions were divided into three grades, men’s A and B grades, and a ladies’ section. Altogether 21 teams were entered, the competition was keen and the standard of play was high. Financial The annual account; disclose an excess of income over expenditure of £5/7/2, which is particularly satisfactory, as heavy expense was incurred. South Island Championships Misses Barbara Lee and Thelma Burton, and Messrs L. A. Sharman and F. J. O’Gorman p’ayed in the South Island championships at Christchurch, and. although they were not successful in winning any titles, they gave a good account of themselves and gained valuable experience. In particular, the ladies distinguished themselves by running the present New Zealand champions to three close -ets in the semifinals of the ladies’ doubles. The Association together with most of the sports bodies in Timaru took part in the final day celebrations of the physical fitness week campaign sponsored by the Government. A float consisting of four players (two men and two ladies) suitably attired, participating in a strenuous game of table tennis, was entered.